Statesmen Put Scare into #12 MNU
The William Penn Womens Basketball team gave MidAmerica Nazarene University all they could handle for most of the day on Saturday.
Oskaloosa–Through three quarters, the William Penn women’s basketball team was in position to pull off a huge upset Saturday, but faltered down the stretch in a 64-49 Heart of America Athletic Conference loss to #12 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.).
WPU (5-6, 3-2 Heart) shot just 26.6% (MNU shot 35.0%), but the home team was actually on top 39-37 after 30 minutes of action.
The navy and gold trailed 11-9 after the first quarter and had a nice run to end the half to trail just 28-25 at intermission. The Statesmen defense then went to work in the third period, limiting the Pioneers (6-2, 4-1 Heart) to only nine points for the two-point edge entering the final 10-minute session.
William Penn gave up the advantage early in the last stanza, but was still in it, down only four at 50-46 with five minutes to go. Unfortunately, the visitors closed strong and snapped WPU’s two-game winning streak.
Vashti Nwagbaraocha (Fr., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) knocked down just two field goals, but led the hosts with a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Ashlee Harper (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif., Education) and Sara Petrzelka (Jr., Norway, Iowa, Physical Education) both posted nine points off the bench, while Alyssa Phillips (Jr., Gurnee, Ill., Communications) tallied eight points in addition two blocks and two steals.
Kadejah Young (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn., Physical Education) managed seven points with two steals and Jenna Santi (Fr., Oak Creek, Wis., Elementary Education) dished out three assists and two steals.
WPU forced MNU into 14 turnovers and turned them into 13 points. The Statesmen, however, could not overcome a 55-43 deficit on the glass and a 13-for-26 showing at the charity stripe (2-for-14 3-PT as well).
“We cannot shoot 26 free throws and only make half of them and expect to win,” Head Coach Willie Scott said. “We have to put the ball in the basket to have a chance. We fought hard but ran out gas late in the game.”
Next Up: William Penn finishes off its pre-holiday and non-conference slates by traveling to Omaha, Neb. next Saturday to face Grace in non-conference action at 2 p.m.
